View report page

6
Inevitably, staffing was, and remains, a big problem. In no section
was this more so than in Environmental Health where the shortage
of public health inspectors gave considerable grounds for anxiety.
To some extent, this was alleviated, if not overcome, by the employment
of technical assistants who work under the general supervision
of the public health inspectors and relieve them of as much routine
work as possible. These members of our staff gave a valuable
service, particularly in relation to drainage work, houses in multiple
occupation and work under the Clean Air Act. It is likely that this
shortage of trained public health inspectors will be a factor in our
work for a long time to come and it is fortunate that we are able
to employ technical assistants to cover the more routine aspects
of the work.
Although I have mentioned particularly the shortage of trained
public health inspectors, this problem applies to practically all
technical or professional staff and it is evident that with the foreseeable
expansion of the health and social services, it will be a
considerable time before the supply of staff will meet the demand.
It is also clear that Councils will, in the main, have to rely for their
recruitment of staff on training their own either directly or by
taking advantage of the various training schemes which are available.
During the year, a number of staff in various categories
were accepted or seconded for training.
One part of our work which I must mention is that under the
Clean Air Act which was vigorously carried forward. It was
decided that every effort must be made to make the whole of the
London Borough of Wandsworth into a Smoke Control area by
or in 1970 and at the current rate of progress, this should be within
our capabilities. The map facing page 48 shows the progress made
to date. The most recent addition to the duties and responsibilities
of Health Departments is work under the Offices, Shops and Railway
Premises Act, 1963. Although this work, in most cases, is
straightforward, the volume of work involved is considerable.
These new duties were also actively pursued during the year
although the number of inspections was not as great as was hoped
but this will be rectified in the current year.
The Mental Health section of the Department and work under
the Mental Health Act, 1959, directed to the community care of
the mentally disordered, is one of the fastest growing sectors of the
public health services and during the year a good deal of thought was
given to the planning of these services and to the preparation and
submission of capital schemes which, if and when they come to
fruition, will be a great adjunct to the mental health services locally.
I hope to be able to describe the progress of these schemes in
future Reports.
The reorganisation of the services presented the opportunity
of providing, for the first time, a co-ordinated public health nursing